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29 December 2011

SAWDIS Holiday Alert 2011/2012

The Energy Department on Wednesday said the recent fuel shortage that affected thousands of Gauteng motorists would gradually start to improve over the next few days.

Petrol giant Shell halted deliveries after a leak at it's Alberton depot led to the shut down of operations two weeks ago.

A number of filling stations experienced sporadic shortages, particularly with the unleaded grade.

The department’s spokesperson Robert Maake said several oil companies had started to make alternative arrangements.

“They have been able to import some of their products from the international markets to supplement the shortages,” he said.

- EWN

Road fatalities might increase - RTMC

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is pleading with long distance travellers to exercise caution, as they plan their return journey home.

Over 1,000 people have lost their lives on the country’s roads this December with around 853 fatal crashes recorded.

The RTMC’s Ashref Ismail said drivers should ensure they are not reckless, and should be sober at all times while driving.

“People are now heading on their homeward bound journeys and it is expected that there would be more accidents resulting in a higher fatality rate," Ismail said.

Ismail listed some of the biggest factors which contributed to accidents.

“Speeds that are too high particularly during bad weather and at night, dangerous driving which include overtaking on the yellow lane and on a solid line as well as drinking and driving and drinking and walking," he said.

Ismail added motorists should ensure their vehicles are in tip-top shape.

“Drivers should make absolutely certain that vehicles are always in a roadworthy condition and more importantly, drivers should also be in a roadworthy condition."

Thirty-nine people have been killed each day on South Africa's roads between December 1 and 26, the Road Traffic Management Corporation said on Thursday.

A total of 1023 people were killed over that period, in 853 crashes, spokesman Ashref Ismail said.

"Given the high number of major fatal crashes recorded this festive season as a result of dangerous driving, traffic authorities around the country have been instructed to confiscate and provisionally suspend the driver's licences of any offender."

Ismail said authorities would show no mercy to those who drove recklessly and inconsiderately.

"Barrier line infringements, red-light jumping and drinking and driving will lead to an arrest and offenders will have their licences suspended."

On Monday, 19 people were killed when a minibus taxi and a car collided head-on on the R26 between Frankfort and Tweeling in the Free State. Both the car and the taxi caught fire, Free State police spokesman Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said on Tuesday.

"Some of the people were burned beyond recognition after the impact. Four occupants from the car and 15 from the taxi died on the scene."

Seven people were taken to the Mafube District Hospital in Frankfort. Two critically injured people were taken to Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein.

"Major contributory factors to accidents remain speeds too high for circumstances, especially at night and during inclement weather, drinking and driving, drinking and walking and dangerous overtaking on barrier lines in the face of coming traffic," said Ismail.

Comparisons to previous years could not yet be done as all crash reports had not been captured.

On December 27 Limpopo traffic police arrested 53 drivers, including the driver of a Mini Cooper who was doing 214km/h in a 120km/h zone, Ismail said.

A total of 1149 people were killed on South Africa's roads between December 1 and December 28 in 2010 and 1304 during the same period in 2009.

The Justice Project SA on Wednesday said there was no legal basis for traffic police to confiscate the licences of traffic offenders on the spot, as Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele had threatened.

"I am not saying licences should not be confiscated or suspended for serious offences, there is a way to do so," the organisation's chairman Howard Dembovsky said.

He said only the courts may revoke a licence.

- Sowetan

Surfer tells how she saved girl

A drowning tragedy at Camps Bay’s Glen Beach on Boxing Day, in which a father drowned while trying to save his family, could have ended in more deaths were it not for teenage surfing champion Tanika Hoffman, who leapt into the sea to assist the family in distress.

Relaying the story on Wednesday, Hoffman, 19, said she was about to go for a swim when she noticed a commotion in the water.

“The dad and three children - his daughter and their two cousins - were in the water struggling.” They had been hit by a wave and swept out by the current.

Hoffman swam towards the father, Anwar Hoosain, 45, and the children.

“I swam out to the first girl who was on a boogie board. She said, ‘please please, help my cousins’. The boy had climbed on to a rock but the little girl … was struggling as she tried to grab on to the rock.”

Hoffman, who is a three-times SA surfing champion and came ninth at the international championships in Panama this year, said: “I had looked across and saw the dad, but the little girl was struggling, too.

“While I swam her back to shore - me on my back and the little girl on top of me - we swam past a guy on a stand-up board so I quickly told him to go back for the dad. The little girl I was pulling in was panicking and in tears,” Hoffman said.

She swam back to the other girl while someone helped her male cousin on the rock. The girl - about 12 or 13 - was desperately clinging to her boogie board.

Hoffman pulled her back to shore.

“Many others then swam in, but nearly got sucked into the current. The guy on the stand-up board and his friends had managed to get the dad - who already looked unconscious - on to the board and were pulling him back.”

By then, says Hoffman, others had gone to get help from officials on Camps Bay beach. Despite the best efforts of paramedics who performed CPR, Hoosain was declared dead on the scene.

Hoosain’s family, who lives in Bellville, were too shaken to speak to the press.

Hoffman said: “I knew the dad needed my help, too, but it was such a difficult situation because he was so much bigger than me, and I prioritised the little girl,” she says.